Austin Peay volleyball preps for 18th consecutive OVC tourney

November 18, 2003

Austin Peays womens volleyball team will make its 18th consecutive appearance in the
Ohio Valley Conference tournament with a match against Eastern Kentucky at 3:30 p.m.,
Thursday, Nov. 20, in Morehead, Ky.
November 18, 2003

Austin Peay's women's volleyball team will make its 18th consecutive appearance in
the Ohio Valley Conference tournament with a match against Eastern Kentucky at 3:30
p.m., Thursday, Nov. 20, in Morehead, Ky.

“Some coaches prefer to play a team back-to-back for the tournament, and some do not,”
says Head Coach Cheryl Holt. “I am going to make it into a positive for our team.
Last Saturday's match was an emotional win, and it could have gone either way. It's
my job to get us back down to business. We had a good win; now we need to get ready
for the tournament.”

If the Lady Govs win Thursday, they will face No. 1 Morehead State Friday. The winner
of that match will play in the finals Saturday.

“I think our team is playing the best together that we can right now,” Holt says.
“We have good team chemistry and good balance. We really struggle if one player isn't
attacking or doing her job. Everyone needs to be ‘on' for the tournament. We can't
afford for even one player to get down or hurt.”

During tournament time, records are wiped clean, and any team can beat any other.
Over the course of the season, the Lady Govs have swept No. 3 Southeast Missouri,
split with both No. 4 Eastern Kentucky and No. 2 Jacksonville State and lost to both
No. 6 Murray State and Morehead State, having only played them each one time this
season.

“The team that comes to the tournament mentally and emotionally prepared will come
out on top,” Holt says. “We just have to believe.”—Mandy White